NMC approves 3 New Medical Colleges, rejects applications for 2 in Karnataka

As per a recent media report by Times of India, the permission for Ramanagara Medical College was withheld due to a scarcity of staff at the 650-bed affiliate hospital. Karnataka had sought approval for five new medical colleges this year, aiming to increase the number of MBBS seats by 600.

However, the NMC has granted permission for only three of 5 proposed institutions. The approved colleges are BGS Medical College and Hospital in Nagarur, Bengaluru North, which will admit 150 students; PES Institute of Health Sciences and Research Centre in Konappana Agrahara, Electronics City, with 100 seats; and SR Medical College in Bagalkot, also with 100 seats, reports the daily. This leaves the state with an addition of only 350 MBBS seats instead of the anticipated 600.

NMC on 6th July 2024 informed that final decisions of MARB in respect of 113 applications have been communicated through e-mail IDs to the Medical Institutions/Colleges concerned for information and necessary action by them within the stipulated timeline.

Along with the notice, NMC also published a list containing those 113 applications for starting undergraduate medical courses including the name of the concerned colleges, their application IDs, and the name of the course. Among these 113 applications, several applications were from the medical colleges in Karnataka.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that taking serious cognizance of poor infrastructure and deficiencies in facilities, at least 27 medical colleges across the state of Karnataka, including several government institutions, had been penalised by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Meanwhile, the data obtained from the Department of Medical Education, Karnataka, reveals that a shortage of faculty members is a prevalent issue among these colleges. Even long-established institutions face similar problems as newer ones.